PIP

xxneilxx

I received a phone call on Thursday from the froid scrod. Saying about my claim. This guy on the end of the phone was asking me about the money I receive. I answered him by saying I receive the highest PIP and also I get income support. But he already knew all this because he's been into my bank account. So asked him why have you been in my bank account. His answer was that you're not using your PIP money and saving it. I said true, Have I done anything wrong for saving it because I need to be closer to my daughter. He replied and said yes we know you have Dystonia and the money is for you to have a better life. How can I have a better life if I'm not near my daughter? After losing my son at the age of 26 to a massive heart attack. I have no one where I live my daughter is the only person in my life and she cannot keep coming down every day to look after me. She has two children to look after. And if I'm really ill she does stay with me in my son's bedroom. Otherwise, she does come down twice a week and I do pay her. Please just tell me what I've done wrong. Because I've just told you what you have done wrong? The money I receive is for new furniture when I move plus I need a better mobility scooter because the one I have is getting rusty. I also said to him I looked it up if you have more than 16.000 pounds you have to tell the government. I don't have that much so this is why I've never told you. So now I have no idea what to do.

poppy123456

You can spend your benefits, including PIP on anything you want to. You can even save money if you want to. However, the money you don't spend, that you have left at the end of the period it's paid for will become savings.

There's a £1/week deduction in your Income Support for every £250 or part there of over £6,000. Therefore you need to report the changes if you have more than £6,000. The same rules also apply to housing benefit, if you're claiming this.

If you're claiming council tax reduction all local Authorities have different rules and some have a maximum savings limit of £6,000 before entitlement to CTR ends.

Do you have more than £6,000 in savings?

2oldcodgers

xxneilxx said:

 I answered him by saying I receive the highest PIP and also I get income support. But he already knew all this because he's been into my bank account. So asked him why have you been in my bank account. His answer was that you're not using your PIP money and saving it. I said true, Have I done anything wrong for saving it because I need to be closer to my daughter. He replied and said yes we know you have Dystonia and the money is for you to have a better life. 

Not too sure what this guy was on about. He is either looking at the moral high ground and basically saying that you don't need your PIP because you save it. Morally you should be spending it or you should close the claim down as others would be more grateful than you are for that money.
Or maybe he is worried and concerned that you are not spending the money correctly like you should - is there a problem? Are you fearful in spending it.  

Alex_Alumni

Hello there @xxneilxx and thanks for reaching out and telling us about the call you received.

Can I ask what you mean by 'froid scrod', just so that I understand fully? I know a few members have been posting about compliance interviews recently, was this one of those?

Did the person calling explain anything at the end of the call for you? Sometimes compliance interviews are generated randomly, so you might not need to do anything further.

A call like this can sometimes feel unnerving, so if there's anything we can do to reassure you, or support you further, please ask. 

poppy123456

2oldcodgers said:

xxneilxx said:

 I answered him by saying I receive the highest PIP and also I get income support. But he already knew all this because he's been into my bank account. So asked him why have you been in my bank account. His answer was that you're not using your PIP money and saving it. I said true, Have I done anything wrong for saving it because I need to be closer to my daughter. He replied and said yes we know you have Dystonia and the money is for you to have a better life. 

Morally you should be spending it or you should close the claim down as others would be more grateful than you are for that money.

Really? That's utter nonesense and quite simply not correct. There's no rules what you can and can't do with any benefits you claim. If you choose to save your money, that's entirely your decision.

Mine was spent on my holiday this year but i'm sure you're now going to tell me i shouldn't have done that.

Alex_Alumni

Just to clarify here @2oldcodgers is what you've said here your own opinion, or what you feel the caller's perception is? (i.e. that the caller feels they should be spending it): 

 He is either looking at the moral high ground and basically saying that you don't need your PIP because you save it. Morally you should be spending it or you should close the claim down as others would be more grateful than you are for that money.

As @poppy123456 has mentioned, there are no rules about what you do with any money awarded from a PIP claim. Saving, spending or otherwise is the decision of the person claiming PIP. There is no correct or incorrect way of using it. 

When I first applied for PIP myself, transitioning from DLA, I was guided by my OT. She explained that the money was for anything that would enhance my daily life, or enable me to be as independent as I can be. That takes many forms of course, and it's a very individual thing. 

Cartini

2oldcodgers said:

xxneilxx said:

 I answered him by saying I receive the highest PIP and also I get income support. But he already knew all this because he's been into my bank account. So asked him why have you been in my bank account. His answer was that you're not using your PIP money and saving it. I said true, Have I done anything wrong for saving it because I need to be closer to my daughter. He replied and said yes we know you have Dystonia and the money is for you to have a better life. 

Not too sure what this guy was on about. He is either looking at the moral high ground and basically saying that you don't need your PIP because you save it. Morally you should be spending it or you should close the claim down as others would be more grateful than you are for that money.
Or maybe he is worried and concerned that you are not spending the money correctly like you should - is there a problem? Are you fearful in spending it.  

I`m a little confused as to why you say / think that.  I work and also get enhanced for both parts of PIP, so from the combined pool I save some and I spend some. The money I spend goes toward my daily living (food etc), treats and items to help me with my challenges (I`ve recently bought some CBD patches to see if they help).  The money I save will be for what I need / want; that could be something for my physical challenges, it could be to replace a fridge (for example) or it could be for a holiday.